Grain-separator.



W. P. SILVER.

GRAIN SBPARATOR.

9. 0 ou 1 0m V. o N d nu LIU n .M D.. ow 0 9 l m. E. A M D E L. 1 I Nv o I T A m .L r, P A

vwenfor Mmmm P. Sibley* @mi blusas aucun. 5

ANDREW. s4 Gamm co.. Pnovwqmoamvnms. wnsmmmmmc.

W. P. SILVER.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAILzo, 1909.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I Q. ow Nm WLliam P. Silver W. P. SILVER. .GRAIN SBPARATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.20, 1909.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

, 4 SHEETS-SHEBT 8.

514110,11 for witnesses P, 511,11? v mnnzw. s. GRAHAM co. Puommnosmr'uins wAsMmagMp. 9

W. P. SILVER.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED 19.13.29,

N9' Patented N0v.9,1909

' 4 SHEETS ECE-41:

HHl lml.

@9i imams 61mm@ s.

ANDREW. B. GRAHAM vm Puma-umuamusna wusnmawu, D. c.

nutren STATES PATENT onirica.

WILLIAM I. SILVER, or ISABEL, KANSAS.

GRAIN-SEPARATOR.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. SILVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Isabel, in the county of Barber, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to grainseparators and more especially to a separator designed for the specific purpose of'separating hard wheat from straw and chaff.

One objectof the invention is to improve the general construction of separators of this character with a view of rendering the separation more thorough.

The second object of the invention is to provide an improved means for loosening` and lifting up the straw so that the wheat is allowed to drop therethrough after having been broken off and the chaff removed.' The third obj ect of the invention is to proj vide means wherebyl the chaff may be reworked in order to insure that none of the wheat is carried away mixed therewith.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in general of a wheel supported frame whereon are mounted certain concaves, a novel form of straw loosener, a novel form of re-working` mechanism for the chaif together with certain conveyer screens and riddles.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts herein fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like partsin the several views.

The Figure 1 is a side elevation of a separator constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. 'Fig 3 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. Avis an enlarged detail section through the shoe. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of an adjustable riddle used in connection with said shoe. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the novel form of fan blade used in connection with this invention.

The numeral 10 indicates the frame of this device and this frameis made up of suit- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1909.

acter. ed a shaft 12 whereon is a cylinder 13 which ,is preferably provided ywith bars 14, twenty- Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Serial No. 484,816.

able longitudinal, vertical, transverse and diagonal members. The frame 10 is supported on wheels 11 of the ordinary char- At one end of the frame 10 is mounto'ne in number.' 'Adjacent tothe outer periphery of these bars are shafts 15, upon each of which are mounted cams 16. A

jconcave rest 17 is provided with apertures adapted to receive these cams and by rotation ofthe shafts 15 this concave rest may be brought closer to or farther from the cylinder 13. It will also be noted that either end of the concave rest may be moved closer or farther from the cylinder without affecting the position of the other end.

The entire device is provided with a casing 18 wherethrough the shafts 15 project and these shafts each carry upon one end thereof an arm 19 supporting a locking pin 2O, the construction of which not being necessary here to be shown. This locking pin 20 moves over a perforate arcuate bar 21 within the perforation of which the locking pin is adapted to fit. B y means of this construction the concave rest may be held in its properly adjusted position as is deemed advisable with varying grades of wheat. y

` Supported on the concave rest 17 is a convcave 22 provided with a plurality of teeth 23. This concave is in the form of the usual 'foraminous plate not deemed necessary here to be shown as the construction is such as is common with'devices of this character. A shaft 24- carrying a roller 25 is also mounted at the end of the frame and in spaced relation thereto, toward the other end of the frame is a shaft 26 carrying a roller 27. Around these rollers extends a conveyer in the form of a belt 28 provided with spaced fiights 29. This conveyer is so arranged that the wheat and chafll falling through the foraminous concave will be caught thereon and moved toward what may be termed the rear of the machine.

To the rear of the concave 22 is a shaft 30 supporting a roller 31 and to the rear and above the shaftA 30 is a similar shaft 32 and roller 33. These rollers serve to support a conveyer in the form of an endless belt 34 provided with flights 35. Extending from the concave 22 to a point adjacent the lower end of the conveyer 34 is a delivery Vas the shaft is rotated.

lip 36. These parts are so arranged that when the straw from the concave 23 is pushed out over the lip 3G the conveyer 34 will raise the same from the lip to the upper end. Adjacent the conveyer 34 is a shaft 37 whereon is mounted a front beater 38 which assists not only in raising the straw but also in loosening same and disintegrating the wheat from the chaff.

At 39 is a shaft whereon is mounted a pair of levers 40 to one arm of which is attached an eccentric arm 41 operated by an eccentric 42 carried on the shaft 32. To the other arm of the lever 4() is pivotally attached a convex 41 provided with a plurality of spaced serrations as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of this convex 41 is supported in the manner hereinafter to be described and the convex device rests at an angle with the points of the serrations eX- tending downward7 the upper end being adapted to receive the material carried up by conveyer 34. It will now be apparent that as the conveyer 34 operates the convex 41 is given an oscillatory motion. Above the convex 41 is supported a shaft 42 whereon is mounted a second rear beater 43 provided with spaced teeth 44 adapted to strike the material as it is fed over the convex and assist in the further disintegration of the wheat, straw and chaff.

Shafts 45 are supported in spaced arrangement on the frame 10 and these shafts are provided with cams 4G. A concave support 47 is held on these cams and serves to support a concave 48 provided with spaced teeth 49, the outer ends of the shafts 45 projecting through the casing 18 and each of these shafts carry an arm 49 provided with stop pin 50 which moves over a perforated arcuate bar 51 giving a similar adjustment to this concave as is permitted to the concave 22. Above the concave 48 is a shaft 52 whereon is mounted a cylinder 53 provided with spaced bars preferably twelve in number.

Supported by links is a straw rack 5G provided with a serrated foraminous plate 57. At 58 is mounted a shaft which carries an eccentric 59 provided with a pitman G0. On the outer end of this pit-man there is provided a pin 61 which passes through a slot 62 in the casing and connects with the straw rack 56 so that the latter is oscillated Springs G3 are attached to the frame work at intervals above the straw rack and upon these springs are mounted arms G4 which support rods 65 carrying spaced straw lingers 6G. The rods 65 pass through suitable openings in the sides of the straw rack and when the latter is oscillated the lingers 6G will be vibrated up and down through the action of the springs 63. In this manner as the straw passes over the straw rack toward the lower end thereof it is continually lifted by the lingers G6 so that the Igrain is permitted to fall through the lifted and loosened straw.

Supported in a frame is ay shaft (37 carryingl a rear beater 68 provided with a series of beater teeth G9 adapted to strike the straw as it passes over the straw rack Se and this beater is revolved in such a, direction as to assist in forcing the straw along the rack. The lower end of the straw rack is provided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined spout 70, the purpose of which is to prevent the grain being arried over the end of the rack and with this in view the rear end of the spout extends up as at 7.1 to form a closure for the rack. hlounted on the frame are links 72 which support a chailer 73 provided with a foraminous plate 74. Mounted on the shaft 58 is a second eccentric 75 provided with a pitman 7G supporting a pin 77 which passes through a slot 78 and has its inner end allixed to the chatter '73. The eecentrics 59 and 75 are preferably diametrically opposite in arrangement on the sha'l't 58 so that as the straw rack :3G moves in one direction the chaft'er 73 moves in the opposite direction.

The chaifer and straw rack are both downwardly inclined toward the rear end as may be clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. 2. and below this rear end is supported a shoe provided with a casing 79 whereon is supported a plurality of riddles, one of which is forwardly and downwardly inclined as at 80 and is held at the rear end of the chaii'er 73. rlhis riddle is preferably called the back riddle. At 81 is a similar front riddle. Beneath the front and back riddle is supported an upper riddle 82 and immediately below this is a lower riddle 83. This shoe is supprted by means of links 8-l .so that the same may be oseillated and in order to provide for the oscillating movement the shaft 85 is mounted in a frame and carries an eccentric 8G which operates a pitxnan 87 having its free end connected to the shoe.

In order to adjust the vertical height of the front end of the shoe as well as to vary the inclination of the screens and riddles there is provided a shaft 88 carrying ee centrics 89 which operate in the slotted casting 90 formed in the side walls of the shoe casing. rllhe shaft 88 is provided like the shafts 15 and 45 with an arin 91 carryingl a pin which passes over an arcuate har 9:3 provided with a series of spaced perforations.

The forward end of the shoe is open and a fan casing 94 provided with an air admission door 95 on the forward side thereof is supported adjacent this open end. lilithin the fan casing is provided a shaft 9u carrying a plurality of fan blades 97, each of which is practically in the form oi a trapezoid the narrower end being attached l'iO to the shaft and the base being provided with a notch 98 it having been found that this form is the best adapted for use with this device.

In order to properly direct the blast of air from the fan there are provided shafts 99 carrying defiector blades 100. These shaft-s extend through the casing and are provided with arms 101 carrying stop pins 102 which move over a perforate arcuate bar 103 so that the angular position of the deflector blades may be regulated.

In order to permit the proper opening of the gate 95 there is provided a 'shaft 104 carrying an arm 105 which is connected by link 106 to the gate or door 95.. This shaft 104 projects through the casing and carries an arm 107 provided with a stop pin 108 arranged to move over a perforate bar 109 so that the proper door opening may be readily maintained. At the rear end of the shoe is a conveyer box 110 wherein is mounted a screw conveyer 111 leading to the conveyer box 112 wherein is mounted a belt conveyer of the ordinary type not deemed necessary here to be shown and at the other end the conveyer box 112 is held above the cylinder 53 being there provided with a spout 113 extending downward over said cylinder. At the forward end of the shoe is a conveyer box 114 provided with an auger 115 leading to a discharge spout 116. j l

Wherever the various shafts project through the casing 18 they are provided with suitable belt pulleys 117 and belts 118 are led around these pulleys in order to actuate 4the shafts, a main drive pulley 119 being provided for connection to an ordi` nary traction or portable engine suchas are commonly used in threshing combinations.

When the straw is deposited in the machine it is first acted upon by the cylinder 13 and concave 22. This beats out some of the seed, dust and cha' which are taken up and carried along by the conveyer 28 tothe rear of the machine, there dropping on the riddle 81, from thence they pass to the riddle 82 through which they are siftedon to the riddle 83. Now by means of the oscillatory motion of the shoe the chaff passesV to the rear of the riddle 83 carrying with it some portions of the grain vwhile the balance of the grain passes through this riddle and drops down into the conveyer box 114 from whence it is forced by the worm conveyer to the delivery spout 116. In the meantime the blast from the fan being properly adjusted serves also to lift the chaff off the riddle 83 and through it to thevback of the shoe, whence it falls into t-he conveyer box 110.

The straw which has been worked by the cylinder 13 and the concave 22 now passes over the delivery lip 36 on to the conveyer 34 up which it passes being beaten in its passage by means of a beater 38. From the conveyer 34 it passes on to the convex 41, thence down over a delivery lip 120 supporting the shaft 121 beneath the lower end of the convex, which it serves to support, beneath the lower end of the convex into the concave 48 where it is acted upon by the cylinder 53, before the straw reaches the concave 48 it is acted upon by the beater 43 so that when it reaches this concave it is in condition to be acted upon by the cylinder 53. The major portion of the grain remaining passes through the concave on to the chaier 73. Now as the chaff'er 73 is oscillated a certain portion of the chaff will drop through on to the chaifer 28 where it will be mixed with the material coming from the concave 22 and go through the same process. The remaining chaff with the grain passes down over the end of the conveyer 28 and a portionof the chaff drops from the chaffer directly on the riddles in the shoe, there passing through the same process as the chaff delivered by the conveyer 28. The balance of the grain passes over the lower end of the chaffer dropping on the riddle 80. The straw coming from the concave 48 passes` on to the straw rack 56 where it is worked along by the straw rack, being lifted and loosened at intervals by the fingers 66 thus enabling all of the grain left in the Vstraw to drop through on the chaffer 73,

while the straw itself passes over the lower end of the straw rack being blown out from the rear of the machine by the blast from Ithe fan. In order to start the loosening of lthe straw the beater 68 is provided, which gives the straw a preliminary loosening up just as it cames from the concave 48.

It is to be noted that a great deal of the chaff is blown out over the rear of the shoe while only the heavier portions thereof, such as the undetached husks around the grain drop into the conveyer box 110. When these portions of the chaff fall in this box they are carried up to the conveyer box 112 to the spout 113, whence they are again delivered to the concave 48, thus making sure that all of the grain is saved.

It is obvious kthat many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is In a grain separator, a cylinder, a con- Vcave held beneath said cylinder, a support for said concave, means to independently adjust either edge of the concave support and move the concave with reference to said cylinder, an endless apron extending rearwardly and upwardly from the said concave, a convex feeder adjacent the upper end of said apron, a beater held in operative relation to said feeder, a second cylinder and concave, a straw rack extending from the second concave7 means for oscillating the straw rack and resliently supported loosening fingers projecting` above the straw rack. 10

In testimony whereof, I a'lx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

` VILLIAM P. SILVER. Vtnesses EARL 7. MEANS, J. II. UT'1nR.\CK. 

